Push-button.



H. C. DOLAN.

PUSH BUTTON.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26,1915.

1,216,553. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

Wibmeooeo W fl n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HALLEY C.-DOLAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSLGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO MALCOLM J. McLEOD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PUSH-BUTTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Feb. 20, 191 7.

Application filed April 26, 1915. Serial No. 24,113.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HALLEY ,C. DOLAN, a

.citizen of the United States of America, re-

sidingat- Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Push- Buttons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein'to the accompanying drawings. v

This invention relates to push buttons, and more, particularly to a multiple switch by which a plurality'of-electrical. circuits vcan be easily controlled.

' The primary object of my invention is to provide an electric switch in the form of. a button which is tiltable in various directions to establish electric circuits, said switch having the contact pieces thereof compactly arranged whereby the device will resemble an ordinary push button.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive switch for electrical'circuits that can be advantageously used in connection with an 25- automobile trafiic signal, the compactness of the switch permitting of its ready installation upon the steering -wheel post of an automobile within easy reach of the chauffeur or operator.

The above and other objects are attained by a mechanical construction that will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference willnow be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan of the pushbutton; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view of the I push button, and

Fig. 4is a plan of the same with the-cover thereof removed and illustrating electrical circuits in connection with the button.

A push button in accordance with this invention comprises a base plate 1 made of light and durable metal and circular in Mounted upon .this base plate is a disk 2 made of fiber or a suitable insulation plan.

material. The disk 2 is of less diameter than the'base plate 1, thereby affording a seat upon the edges of the base plate 1 for a;

ing 6 providing clearance for a yieldable or post and inclosing the uppermost convolution is an inverted conical shaped head 11 provided with a button or finger piece 12 extending through an opening 13 provided therefor in the cover 3. The walls of the opening 13 are scalloped or recessed, as at '14 to permit of the button or finger piece 12 being tilted or swung to one side or the other, for a purpose that will hereinafter appear. y

The conical shaped head 11 is provided with a metallic contact member 15 which practically incloses the head and is in contact with the post 7. The contact member 15 isadapted to engage contact 16 carried by arms 17 connected to the disk of insulation 2 by binding screws or posts 18. The contacts 16- are spaced apart'in proximity to the post 7 and each contact has a head 19 seated in the disk 2, the heads of said con- .tacts preventing the same from becoming accidentally displaced relative to the disk.

The screws or posts 18 are in proximity to openings 20 in the disk 2 and the base plate 1, whereby leading in wires 21 can be connected to the screws or binding posts 18.

With the contact member 15 disposed above and equidistant from the contacts 16, the button or finger piece 12 can beeasily manipulated to tilt the member 15 in a desired direction whereby it will contact with one of the-contacts 16. As an instance ofthe use of the button or switch, there is diagrammatically illustrated electrical devices, as solenoids or electro-magnets 22 and an electric automobile horn 23 all of which are in circuit with a suitable source of electrical energy, as battery cells 24, the ground and the contacts 16. The yieldable post 7 and consequently the contact member 15 is 4 grounded through the medium of the clamping device 10 and to facilitate the use of a button or switch in connectionwith an automobile trafiic signal utilizing the horn 23 andfthe solenoids or electro-magnets 22, the top of the cover 3 is provided with indicia for audible or visible signals. .,As shown in Fig. 1, the to of the cover 3 has the char- ,acter H? in ic'atingthe hor n 23, and the characters L, R and S indicating Left, Right and Slow respectlvely.

When the button or finger piece 12 is tilted toward the character L or to the left an ton 12 being swung to one side, tilting the post 7 and placing the contactmember 15 in engagement with one of the, contacts 16, When the finger piece of button 12 is released the post 7 immediately restores the button or finger piece to its normal position concentric of the circular casing formed by the base plate 1 and the cover 3.

Any suitable means, as screws 25 can be employed for connecting the disk 2 to the plate 1, and by removing the cover 3, easy emma access is had to the screws or binding posts a 18 for making electrical "connection,

One embodiment of my invention has been illustrated but it is tobe understood thatthe structural elements are susceptible to such changes as falli'within the scope of the appended claim. a

What I claim is:-- a

A coiled spring circuit closer comprising a base plate, a disk of insulation on said base plate of less diameter than said base plate, a casing seated on. the edge of said ase plate around said disk, contacts on said disk within said casing adapted to be included in electric circuits, a coiled spring within said. casing having the lowermost convolutions thereof in said disk of insulation and connected to said base plate and said contacts, an inverted conical shaped contact member supported by the uppermost convolutions of said spring adapted to be brought into contact with either of said contacts by tilting the upper portion of said coiled spring, and a button carried by said contact member and protruding out of said Casing to facilitate tiltin said spring.

In testimony whereof aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HALLEY C. DOLAN.

Witnesses BUTLER, ANNA M. Donn.

adapted for a circuit including either of 

